“Many people feel money is the source of a happy life. Money is necessary, useful—but more and more money does not bring happiness.”

Indeed, if people have enough income to handle life’s necessities (about $70,000 per year for the average family), studies find that additional money accounts for about one percent of their life satisfaction.

Based on new data revealing the interplay between the brain’s prefrontal areas, which manage our emotions, and the mid-brain areas like the amygdala that generate feelings like anger and anxiety, Davidson found these robust bases for the kind of happiness in life that has nothing to do with wealth:

Recovering quickly from upsets. Some of us hold on to worries and ruminate about what’s upsetting us for hours or days. Others can get over what’s upsetting quickly and so pay attention to what’s next. That quick recovery helps us get back into a good mood even when life proves distressing.

Staying positive. The more negative our general outlook, the more things will bother us. Those of us who have a sunny outlook tend to get upset or down about fewer events in our life.

Focus. A mind that wanders or stays stuck to our worries tends to make us feel down. A mind that lets go of those concerns and pays attention to what’s going on in the here and now frees us from those negative moods.

The good news: these brain-based keys to well-being can be strengthened. One direct route lies in practicing mindfulness and a compassionate attitude. As Davidson says, well-being is a skill we all can get better at.